Universal time indicating attachment for clocks



Feb. 28, 1939. G... w. Kinn 2,148,907

UNIVERSAL TIME INDICATING ATTACHMENT FOR CLOCKS Filed Apri; 18, 1956 George Walfvon [fidi zafeniar l'lorneg Patented Feb. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE George Watson Kidd, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Application April 18, 1936, Serial No. 75,135

4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in timepieces, one object of the device being theproduction of a clock dial, of simple design, by which in combination with an accompanying chart, the time in any part of the world at anyparticular moment may be readily ascertained.

Another object is to provide a simple means for indicating whether the time indicated by the dial of any place or locality other than where the clock is situated is in the present day or the days preceding or succeeding. The value of my device in relating foreign radio broadcasts to local time is obvious.

Heretofore in geographical or universal time clocks the relating of time in distant localities to local time has necessitated an extremely complicated mechanism and procedure, by reason of the number of symbols, lists of localities and rotating mechanism, on or surrounding the dial. By my device, I eliminate all complicating factors and produce a clock face of extremely simple pattern, the operation of which may be readily understood.

My invention consists of a usual twenty-four hour clock face, which may also contain two sets of twelve hour divisions equi-spaced around the periphery to facilitate ready recognition of he twenty-four hour numbering. On its outer periphery the dial is divided into sixty minutes, numbered by ves. A circular dial, of somewhat smaller diameter than the clock face, is adjustably mounted on the shaft of the hour-hand, and on the outer periphery is divided into twentyfour equal parts numbered from A to Z, (omitting I and X). This circular dial is carried by and revolves with the hour-hand of an astronomical or ordinary twenty-four hour time-keeping clock-movement, but can be manually revolved independent of it.

A salient feature of the device is the employment of indicators at the hour number 24 on the clock dial and at N on the annular movable dial. On the side of 24 adjacent to I this indicator is colored red, and on the opposite side, blue. Similarly, the indicator at N on the side adjacent M is colored red, and on the opposite side, blue. These colors are merely selected for convenience, and any other two colors may be used.

A card on which names of countries and cities are alphabetically listed with identification symbols annexed, accompanies my device.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates a plan view of an ordinary twenty-four hour clock face with my inner circular disc in position; Fig.

taining alphabetical list of cities and localities. 5

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 4 designates the hour-hand of my twenty-four hour clock movement, 5 is the minute-hand, 6 is a twenty-four hour clock face and l an indicator positioned at the division marked 24, colored red on the side adjacent to I and blue on the opposite side. 8 is the circular disc, adjustably mounted by means of a split bushing at 9 on the shaft l0 of the hour-hand 4. At ll the periphery of my annular disc is divided into twenty-four equal parts designated by the letters of the alphabet, alphabetically arranged, but omitting I and X. Every from 0 to 180 a degree indication is marked opposite each of the alphabets from A to N, both clockwise and anti-clockwise. At N is an indicator or marker I2, red on the side adjacent to M, and blue on the opposite side.

An alphabetical list of countries, and cities, with two columns of letters, one to indicate standard time, the other for Daylight Saving Time, where that method of keeping time is in use is used with my device.

In constructing this list, and attaching the alphabetical values to the localities and cities, Greenwich or Great Britain is taken as zero, and all places having Greenwich time are marked YA?. Italyl 15"I east of Greenwich would` be marked B, New York, which has Atlantic Time, 75 west of Greenwich, would be marked U, other localities being designated by letters appropriate to their respective meridians. If the time of any city does not actually correspond with the mean time of that 15 division of longitude in which it is situated, a correction is added after its code letter, viz: the city of Adelaide is coded K3() and L30 for Standard and Daylight Saving Times respectively, the local time at Adelaide being ascertained in the manner described, thirty minutes being added to the result to give the exact time there.

The operation of my device is as follows: the clock mechanism is wound up and the clock set to the local time, the circular dial 8 being revolved until the code letter on this dial corresponding to the locality where the clock is situated is directly under the hour-hand. Assume that local time is approximately 13 hours or 1 P. M., and the locality is Victoria, British Columbia, which has Pacific Time. A reference to the complete chart indicates that Pacific Time u is designated by the Letter R. Accordingly I rotate the inner circular disc until the letter R coincides with the hour-hand. The indicating mechanism is now in position to give any foreign time that may be desired, and it will-remain in the correct position for accurately determining all foreign time, as it is carried around the clock face on the hour-hand shaft, as long as the clock remains in the same time belt, or degree of longitude, in the present case, at Pacific Time.

To ascertain the time, for instance, at Aden, a reference to the chart shows that Aden is in D division (Standard Time). Referring again to the annular disc, the time at Aden may now be read opposite to the symbol D, which in this case is 24 hours, or midnight. Similarly Atlantic Time would be read opposite to V at 1'7 hours, or 5 P. M.

Further, should the device be used at sea, and it be desired to ascertain the time at some distant point, the ships position in degrees east or west of Greenwich will be secured, say 45 West Greenwich, and the circular dial rotated until 45 corresponds to and is in line with the hour- ?iand, when any desired times may be located as before. ning clockwise will relates to degrees of longitude east of Greenwich, those running anticlockwise on the dial will obviously relate to degrees west of Greenwich.

To ascertain the time in any cities using Daylight Saving Time, I use the symbol in the second column of the card. For example, Daylight Saving Time at Aden (assuming that that locality employs Daylight Saving Time) would be found opposite to E or 1 A. M.

It is often useful in relating foreign to local time, particularly with regard to short wave broadcasts, to know whether a given program will be heard the same day or a day ahead of local time, and the two markers, at 24 on the stationary dial and at N on the movable disc indicate the day as follows: when the code letter applying to a given city is found to lie between the two red marks, then the time indicated will ce in the next day ahead of all places withinV the two blue markers. For example, assume Victoria, (Pacic Time) to be 2O hours or 8 P. M., and it is desired to ascertain the time in Egypt, which is designated by the letter C. When the disc 8 is turned until the letter corresponding to Victoria is under the hour hand which is said to be at 8 P. M. C (Egypt) will be at 6 A. M. and between the two red markers and hence in the day ahead. Similarly, as the movable dial revolves, and the angular space between the two red markers increases, if the local time is withinthe redY markers and the foreign time within the two corresponding blue markers, the foreign time will be found to be in the day previous.

I claim:

1. In a universal time indicating attachment for clocks, the combination comprising, a twenty-four hour clock, including the usual dial having twenty-four consecutively numbered divisions It will be remembered that degrees runthereon, an inner circular dial adjustably mounted on the hour-hand shaft of said clock, said clock dial also having twenty-four additional numbered divisions on its periphery, said inner circular dial being divided into twenty-four divisions, each containing an identication symbol, a marker at the twenty-fourth hour on said clock dial, which is divided by a vertical line into two portions and a marker on said circular dial at the twelfth consecutive position on its periphery similarly divided by a vertical line into two portions.

2. In a universal time indicating attachment for clocks, the combination comprising, a twenty-four hour clock, including the usual dial having twenty-four consecutively numbered divisions thereon, a circular dial adjustably mounted on the hour-hand shaft of said clock, said clock dial also having twenty-four additional numbered divisions on its periphery, said circular dial u being divided into twenty-four divisions, each containing an identication symbol, a marker at the twenty-fourth hour on the said clock dial, which is divided by a vertical line into two portions, and a marker on said circular dial at the twelfth consecutive position on its 'periphery similariy divided by a vertical line into two portions.

3. In a universal time indicating attachment for clocks, the combination comprising a twenty-four hour clock, including the usual dial having twenty-four consecutively numb-ered divisions -iereon, a circular dial adjustably mounted on the hour-hand shaft of said clock, said clock dial also having twenty-four additional equal numbered divisions on its periphery, said circular dial being divided into twenty-four similar divisions,

' each identified by a letter of the alphabet, alphabetically arranged, omitting I and X, a marker at the twenty-fourth hour on the said clock dial which is divided by a vertical line into two portions and a marker on said circular dial at the division identified by letter N and similarly divided by a vertical line into two portions.

4. In auniversal time indicating attachment for clocks, the combination comprising a twenty-four hour clock, including the usual dial having twenty-four consecutively numbered divisions thereon, a circular dial adjustably mounted on the hour-hand shaft of said clock, said clock dial also having twenty-four additional equal numbered divisions on its periphery, said circular dial being divided into twenty-four similar divisions, each identied by a letter of the alphabet, alphabetically arranged, omitting I and X, said circular dial being numbered in degrees, starting with Zero at A and increasing to 180 at N, both clockwise and anti-clockwise, a marker at the Ytwenty-fourth hour on said clock dial which is divided by a vertical line into two portions, and a marker on said circular dial at the division identified by letter N and similarly divided by a vertical line into two portions.

GEORGE WATSON KIDD. 

